Musical instruments must go 1st class

12/07/2010

From Easyjet to major air-line companies, it's never easy to bring expensive, bulky luggage into another country, for fear that the cargo hold of a plane might damage your priceless luggage. Just imagine then, what difficulties musicians have in transporting thousands of pounds-worth of delicate instruments, such as a $200k cello, across the world.

This was the dilemma facing Greg Beaver, 33, a member of the Nebraska-based Chiara String Quartet, who attempted to bring his instrument from Denver to New York. Having paid for an United Airlines single economy seat for the cello, as well as for seats for himself, his wife and his child, Greg was not allowed to board the flight until the cello had a new first class seat, into which it was thought the cello would fit perfectly.

The cost of upgrading the ticket would have cost a considerable $1,052 on the United Airlines flight and eventually, Greg waited for a later flight and his family flew on ahead of him. However, Greg commented on the decision by United Airlines, saying it was uncommon and that it pointed to the ongoing problems that musicians face with transporting instruments.